Two of the offenders executed, Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were the leaders of a drug ring known as the Bali Nine. They were arrested in 2005 for their roles in attempting to smuggle more than $3 million (USD) worth of heroin from Indonesia to Australia.

The following year, the two were convicted and sentenced to death. Seven other members of the Bali Nine are serving life sentences or 20 years in prison.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo denied the inmates clemency. That's been the impetus of widespread condemnation from prisoners' families, protesters, public figures and foreign leaders who say the death penalty is too harsh for their crimes.

"It is not in the best interests of Indonesia. It is not in accordance of the best value of Indonesia. This doesn’t accord with the Indonesia that I know well and respect very greatly,"said Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.